The Alkmon Tribune - Issue VII - CONTINENTAL UNREST

RECENTLY, the Imperial Navy, Sarder Natian Navy, and the Cascadian Self Defence Fleet have begun extensive military exercises off of the Pagryan coast, furthering the tensions between the Hegemony and the formerly USAM-sympathetic nation. At 05:43 AWT, the Pagryan Navy deployed a battlegroup just outside the designated safety zone of the Coalition’s operating area, interrupting the intense practise drills that had been going on for the last twelve hours. While technically in international waters, Pagryan Representative to the Alkmon Parliament Franco Dora has deemed this an illegal action and a violation of their sovereignty, calling for the IFN to cease their actions immediately. Parliament has had no comment on this, but the IFN was quick with their reply. Saturday morning, Supreme Command Admiral of the Armada Arlek Shae personally made a statement before Parliament in the place of Representative Kyuhana Cho: “We are the defenders of this continent; the Joint Forces, later the Coalition, we were created to defend Alkmon. All of it. Even before the USAM’s collapse two years ago, the Alkmon Joint Forces was made unanimously in the image of a united Alkmon. We have done these exercises before, we will continue doing them. Pagrya participated in RIMPAC, CARAT, and Foal Eagle, and are no strangers to military movements off foreign coasts. For instance, we had to tell them off two years ago when they ventured into our sovereign waters during the Summer Wars. We are not invading their sovereign waters, our closest vessel is, at the closest, twenty kilometres from their national zone. Any and all retaliation by their navy will be considered an act of aggression, and will be responded to in kind. By ordering the stoppage of this exercise, you are violating and impeding multiple international organisations that you yourself supported and are a part of in the first place.” Quickly, the Pagryan delegate stormed the floor and came to the stand to make their reply: “This is outrageous. Our sovereignty is at risk and you will sit by and let them trample our lands? We have stated several times that we were to extend our waters so we could have a better covering area of our coast, not have someone else do it for us. We are a proud people, will you allow this to happen?” Apparently, the answer from Parliament was 480 yea and 120 nay, so the exercise and the subsequent patrols will go on as planned. Pagrya has made no further comment.

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MINORIAN Resistance Forces have moved into the fringes of western Calappess Aleek, prompting armed conflict between the Calappian Mounted Police and the dug-in guerilla fighters. This particular cell, calling themselves the ‘Eclipse 24’, are led by former USAM general Francis Junker, and have been on the run from Imperial Army forces for the last seven months. Having captured an old weapons storehouse last week in the eastern mountains of the Organised Territory, the Imperial Bureau of Intelligence has deemed them a severe threat to Calappian security. We have been informed that Felchan IBI operatives have been deployed to Calappess Aleek, but reports are inconsistent at best. Statements by Stealth Commander Ela Łosek and Intelligence Director Yumaiy Kora have been vague, and further information on the fighting there has only been leaked from citizen journalists and local news networks in the Minorian-occupied town of Comanche. As quoted from channel Sedro 9: “It is simply terrifying out here in Comanche. We still have broadcasting abilities, but all roads have been cut off, we have to keep moving. They’ve shut down most other news outlets, I’m not even sure if there are any left, and everyone has been put under martial law. Even the Mounted Police have fled to the forest, we don’t have any supplies incoming for as long as this occupation goes on. A lot of people think they executed the regional magistrate at the county hall, but no one’s been allowed in. Casualties are in the hundreds, fatalities are in the dozens. If we go off the air, assume that we’re still working to get it back. This is a call for help.” It is well-known to the Alkmon Parliament that the Calappians have been in a series of demilitarisation operations, and the Felchan have reached out to the Calappian government to engage in a sustained conflict with their support. The United Geronimo States have pledged several hundred of their troopers to the cause, the Sarder Nat have mobilised their air forces, and the occupying Imperial military awaits the go-ahead at the border of Calappess Aleek.

Senator Valeria Francisco, speaker-governor for Calappess Aleek’s King’s County, spoke at the Alkmon Parliament in Antroi Monday afternoon: “Long have we stood as a pinnacle of the peace movement in Alkmon. Our demilitarisation is, while exploitable, imperative in keeping with our standards of inaction in conflict. This unfounded attack on our borders seventy-six hours ago has forced our hand into once again falling into our carnal efforts of war, and to end this swiftly we call upon our allies. Surely, we must legally declare this conflict, and surely, we must mobilise what remains of our military, but I am confident our government will act in good accordance for its people. In our history, too many have been lost as sacrifices for the ‘greater good’, but with our vulnerability and the rampant violence of these terrorists we once again succumb. The existence of our great nation depends on the silencing of these aggressors.” From the Angelica, Intelligence Operative Avren Kotani has been watching, and has noted several things about this sudden push that is different than previous Minorian cells: “It is quite interesting, I must add, that they haven’t been going further than they already have. Groups in the past have acted as an almost nomadic people, moving from base to base and never trying to retread ground. The Eclipse 24 are actively holding Comanche, and have been quite effective at doing so. As far as we know, the storehouse they raided last Sunday was holding close to four thousand Devaka Mk. XVII combat rifles, very powerful for what would normally be counted as a rebel cell. They're depleted uranium rounds from the USAM's old nuclear programme. They're trying to keep Comanche, not move, and we can only assume that they want the old USAM back. They won't get it." Calappess Aleek is stretched thin with their Mounted Police, and the Coalition is awaiting orders to move in; truly, it is a tumultuous time for the central-south.

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LATELY, it’s been ramping up in Alkmon to the CFL B Championship—the primary game to highlight the Umog-Felchan rivalry—and footballers around the continent have been anticipating an intense game. Indeed, Wednesday’s match was one worth writing about. Tickets had completely sold out, sporting a whopping 95,000 spectators in the Argai National Arena, and even more crowded the city to watch the game by other means. It was a tough match; for the first quarter, not one of the eight goal attempts by either team made it even close to scoring due to both sides’ competent defenders. After several minutes of back-and-forth play, Felchan co-captain Alcani Vanetraäs knocked in the first goal at the 31’, breaking through the goalie’s stance with a feint pass. At the 38’, Umog second striker Marcus Delacy pushed past the Felchan’s stalwart defence and ran it up the field to score one for the boys in purple. Running into the second half, the game sat at 1-1, landing the game into one of the most intense overtime periods of the rivalry. Within the overtime there were fourteen goal attempts, but the extraordinary feats of both goalies kept it at bay. By the end, it turned into a shootout, putting to the test just how good the goalies were. Kevani Demeter, goalie and co-captain of the Felchan team, blocked three attempts but let two through, bringing the score to 1-3. Westin Vaughan, the Umog goalie, blocked two and let three through, finishing the game at 4-3. This win brings Felchah into the qualifiers for the Alkmon ICL Cup, and brings to the nation their fourteenth CFL B trophy. Umog will continue to other national games to try again at entering the ICL Cup.

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Miscellaneous News:

Antroi City FC and Argai United fought it out at the Antroi Imperial Sports Centre Monday morning, with Antroi besting the Predators 3-1. This marks the third straight year Antroi has beaten Argai, yet Argaian fans are still hopeful next year will be their big break. Antroi City is set to face Real Farstrika on Thursday, bringing them ever closer to the tense rivalry of Antroi v. Mentaka Professional.

Felchan Representative to Alkmon Parliament Qakon Bulo passed away in his sleep Saturday morning, ushering in junior delegate Kyuhana Cho into the executive position. As a young, experienced woman, Hegemon Crane expects she will be instrumental to many future Parliamentary actions.

The Queensland of the United Geronimo States has closed its borders to free access, and all foreign, non-essential traffic will be monitored. In a press statement on the 22nd, Queen Krovelex had this to say on the matter: "...[A]ny and all persons, or nations, who go against the policy of the Queensland is an enemy of the Queensland, and we will not hesitate to act with military force. With this announcement, we are closing all borders. All who wish to enter the country will have to go through an advanced screening and background check. [W]e invite ambassadors of allied nations to the capital to negotiate new treaties and trade policies." We assume this is in response to previous terrorist attacks on the UGS, Imperial Felchah, and Cascadia earlier last year.

Kingston Slattery, chief organiser of the Jerry Straight Pride Festival, has gone missing after taking the funds intended for the festival and running. He is being hunted down by local police, who as well call for citizens to watch out for the man. While not in the basis of their nation, Jerry's strict free speech laws allowed for the controversial event to go through in their capital.

One of many recent seizings by the Minorian Resistance, the FSS Kanato Kani has gone missing off of the coast of Eastern Saint Jerry of Booze, putting to question the whereabouts of the crew. A search-and-rescue effort has been put into effect by the Imperial Navy and the Kovakistani Maritime Self Defence Force. We, by previous events, can assume the crew has been captured and subject to working under the Minorian cause, but without proper identification and evidence nothing can be sure. The search area covers a five hundred kilometre radius around their last known location, as well as possible routes to known Minorian-controlled areas. If you or anyone you know was aboard the Kanato Kani, or may have any information on it, contact the Imperial Bureau of Intelligence at intel.gov.if.

The Kalmar Centre for Diabetes Research has opened in New Kalmar, Xovlandia, Monday morning after months of setbacks. The building houses two thousand of Xovlandia’s brightest minds put together towards the common goal of curing Type 1 and 2 diabetes. Its construction finished in tandem with the Felchan BrainLab space station, which observes the effects of space on the human body. In the words of Lead Scientist Charles Yancy of the KCDR: “It is truly an era for scientific advance. From the diseases that have plagued our peoples for as long as we have existed on this Earth, to beyond even the furthest star, we have set out to study. It is one of the many admirable human qualities, to learn; to learn, adapt, and put our lessons to action.” The KCDR is open to public access for tours. To inquire about tours, information on their mission, or to see the history of diabetes research, go to www.kcdr.xo.

The Miagsregh Council has doubled down on its condemnation of Beijing with the continuation of their suppression of the Hong Kong Protests. Currently, it has been one hundred sixty-three days since the beginning of the protests, and the Miagsregh has persisted with its support of Hong Kong’s independence. With the recent excommunication of the Chinese government—particularly Premier Li Keqiang—this only brings higher the already tense situation between the two nations.

© 2019 Alkmon Tribune, Imperial Felchan Office of Public Relation